ISLAMABAD: Pakistan seems to have brought closure on one of the questions pending since the murder of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in the early hours of May 2, 2011, that of his family. It deported all 14 of them to Saudi Arabia, Express News reported early Friday morning.
After a heavy contingent of security forces escorted the bus carrying 14 members of bin Laden's family to the Islamabad airport, they all boarded the chartered Saudi plane to be taken to Jeddah.
According to a Ministry of Interior statement, they were all being deported to Saudi Arabia, a country of their own choosing.
As the bus arrived at the airport, it was allowed to directly proceed to the aircraft that had flown specifically from Saudi Arabia for the purpose.
The former al Qaeda chief was found to be living with three of his wives and 11 children at a mansion in the garrison town of Abbottabad. US troops had transgressed into Pakistani territory on a stealth helicopter before raiding the house and killing bin Laden in the early hours of May 2, 2011.
Express News reported from the house, where the family of bin Laden had been detained, that a heavy contingent of security forces and a coaster bus had reached to take widows and children to the airport. Sources said that bin Laden’s family is due to be deported to Saudi Arabia with a special plane from the Arab kingdom carrying Saudi officials having already arrived at the Benazir Bhutto International airport for the purpose.
The Saudi Ambassador too has reached the airport where security has been increased manifold. According to sources, the first stop for the flight carrying the terror chief’s family is Jeddah.
Earlier, Saudi authorities had refused to accept the widows and children of the slain al Qaeda chief directly from Pakistan. Unveiling the mystery behind the delay in the deportation of the family, top officials said that the Saudis wanted Islamabad to re-route them through a third country.
Pakistan had announced the deportation of Bin Laden’s three widows on April 18, 2012 following a court order two weeks ago which had handed the family a 45 day detention sentence (pre dated to March 3) for illegally entering and living in Pakistan, before being sent to the countries of their origin. However, the move was delayed with much confusion regarding its cause.
Pakistani officials describe bin Laden's long presence in the hill-town of Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject suggestions that members of the military and intelligence service were complicit in hiding him there.
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Funny there is no names of family member being deported nor any identifications. All we have is a charade with security cohorts.
Pressure was on -- wanted them out of the country before the first anniversary of the OBL debacle. Any other country would have immediately allowed the USA to interview them and then promptly put them on the first plane to Saudi Arabia saving time, money and embarrassment.
I suggest the Editor take the time to look up the definition of murder - poor choice of words.
surprised they were not granted Pakistani citizenship...
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui Hope you are correct.May God bless Pakistan. But it is a hope against hope because people should first demonstrate their ability to shun violence,discrimination,hatred and then only they can transform their country.Few terrorist can not deter a country from its progress. The sad state of affairs are due to a significant number of people following undesirable paths. Anyway, the whole world wishes Pakistan a great future and the challenge is to be realised by Pakistanis only.
@How?: " Once they leave PAK they can spill the beans as to how and who supported them inside PAK."
Not yet. Pakistan and KSA may have an understanding / agreement to keep them in seclusion. KSA may allow US to interrogate them secretly. They shall be used by KSA or USA if Pakistan makes noise about IP pipeline or does not tow the USA and KSA line on the Afghanistan end game. USA and KSA and also Afghanistan are on the same page now as far as the Afghanistan end game is concerned. They all want prosperity for their citizens and put an end to all terror activities for ever whereas Pakistan is more concerned about how it can harm others and cause destruction in other countries than caring for the prosperity of its citizens. Years of Military rule which is still continuing to some extent has caused this. They say sovereignty is more important than prosperity of the citizens but when ambushed by the Talibans, more than 120 soldiers surrender without firing a single bullet. No enquiry or investigating commission on this !!!!!! Reminds me of FAUJI FLAKES !!!!!!!
@Mirza
Very well put.The troll exclaiming 'Bin laden were long dead', he was never in Pakistan are surprisingly missing as yet.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: "The peaceful people of Pakistan do not want to see any terrorists or their family members on Pakistan soil any more." I think every Pakistani saw him as Islamic world hero & strategic asset. Now you can not milk cow anymore so lets slaughter it.
In civilized countries only the culprit gets the punishment. Navy Seal only punished the culprit and not their family otherwise they would not have enjoyed the hospitality for one more year. I wish sucide bombers, terroirsts and their handlers were that civilized. Deportation is coincided with the first anniversary.
Got ridden at last. Presence of these ladies and children in Pakistan should silence those who still believe that OBL was dead long ago and May 2 raid by US seals was a farce. Hafiz Saeed must see this as well.
but the point is, Pakistan can deport too.
And yet, most Pakistanis still deny that Bin Laden was in Pakistan and that he was killed in Abbottabad by US special forces!
bye bye ladies!! Be good to your kids and never make more Osamas.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Dear Sir, how could these family members be deported then and there? OBL was not even there, he was killed long ago, remember? So how could poor Pakistani authorities produce and deport his family then and there? The nations who lie to their own people and the world cannot make any progress. Not only that they are still hiding the facts in the garb of Abbottabad Commission let alone punish his protectors. Regards, Mirza
Once they leave PAK they can spill the beans as to how and who supported them inside PAK.
So americ droped the family of OBL in Pakistan. Why we are hosting these arabs who have nothing good in them,
The entire family members of the Chief Terrorist of The World should have been deported then and there when they were taken in to custody by Pakistani authorities.
The peaceful people of Pakistan do not want to see any terrorists or their family members on Pakistan soil any more.
Pakistan is destined to progress and these terrorists are the main hurdle in taking Pakistan forward into 21st century.
Good riddance.
Only two countries in the world deserve these people. Congratutlations!